These 15 Philly businesses accept bitcoin

The Street Glitter Gallery accepted its first bitcoin transaction a few days before Christmas. The six-month-old boutique on East Girard Avenue is one of a handful of local businesses that accept the digital currency, following a national trend.

The six-month-old boutique on East Girard Avenue is one of a handful of local businesses that accept the digital currency, following a national trend.

Why accept bitcoin?

“Essentially, we did it for the attention,” said co-owner Casey Lynch, who said all three bitcoin transactions she’s done so far have been quick and easy. Bitcoin transactions also don’t require retailers to pay fees, unlike credit card transactions.

Lynch and her co-owner chalk their bitcoin interest up to their friendJason DiLuzio, who had been encouraging them to accept the currency for months. DiLuzio, who organizes theBitcoin PHL Meetup, even offered to buy their bitcoins after they made sales.

Lynch said she hasn’t spent or converted the bitcoins the store has earned yet, adding that the value of bitcoins has risen since the initial transations so the store has made a little money. Though the volatility of the new currency is part of the risk.

“We kind of treat it like a savings account,” she said.

Below, find a list of 13 Philly companies that accept the currency. It’s a diverse group: some more ecommerce than anything, others are primarily brick and mortar, like Street Glitter and Sum Pig Food Truck, while others are services. Let us know of any others and we’ll add them.

Meanwhile, in Baltimore, at least three businesses, including a bar, accept bitcoin.

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Juliana Reyes has been covering the Philadelphia tech scene since 2012. She's co-president of the Asian American Journalists Association Philadelphia chapter and a two-time Philadelphia News Award winner for "Community Reporting of the Year." The Bryn Mawr College grad lives in West Philly, likes her food spicy and wears jumpsuits often.